The Director provides overarching leadership of First Step Legal, shaping its vision, strategy, impact, oversight, and sector representation. The role is responsible for fostering collaboration across all aspects of service delivery and infrastructure within First Step's integrated model of care. It simultaneously leads the strategy, impact, and sustainability of First Step Legal's external health justice partnerships.Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer the Director ensures First Step Legal remains financially sustainable, strategically positioned, and aligned with the mission of First Step. The Director supervises the Principal Lawyer, who holds responsibility for the day-to-day management of the legal practice and professional legal supervision of staff.About First Step First Step is a centre for integrated care – medical, mental health and substance use – with an embedded community legal service. Operating in inner Melbourne, we deliver more than 14,000 bulk-billed or otherwise funded appointments each year to over 1,600 people. Our multidisciplinary team includes doctors, psychologists, nurses, peers, psychiatrists, care coordinators, lawyers and social workers, working side-by-side to support people with co-occurring needs such as substance use, trauma and mental distress.We help people navigate complex systems by taking on the responsibility for care coordination, building trust, promoting self-agency, and supporting stability and connection. Recognised by the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, First Step is a leader in integrated, whole-of-life care. Services are provided free of charge, from one team, in one place.About First Step Legal First Step Legal was established as a Health Justice Partnership in 2008 within First Step. Today, it is an accredited community legal centre under the National Accreditation Scheme and a member of the Federation of Community Legal Centres. The service provides pro bono legal advice, casework and representation to existing clients of First Step, as well as with four external health justice partners: Windana Therapeutic Community, Alfred Health, Better Health Network, and Launch Housing East St Kilda and South Melbourne.All clients of First Step Legal receive some form of support from a health or related worker (20% First Step, 80% partner organisation), and lawyers at First Step Legal prioritise recognising the harms many of its clients have experienced by responding in a compassionate, trauma‐informed way, to achieve high quality legal outcomes that will assist in reducing our clients' further contact with the justice system.Key areas of practice Criminal law Family violence (affected family members and respondents) Family lawSkills, Qualifications and Experience Both1) Legal qualification or at least 5 years equivalent senior leadership experience within the community legal sector.And2) Degree level management qualification or at least 3 years significant executive leadership experience.Essential skills and experience Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership within community legal services, legal assistance or closely related sectors. Experience working with Boards, governance structures or Board subcommittees. Experience developing partnerships and securing funding or resources from governments, legal sector bodies, trusts and foundations and private philanthropy. Strong understanding of community legal services and access‐to‐justice issues. Experience working within multidisciplinary or health‐justice partnership settings.Personal attributes Commitment to social justice and access to justice. High level of professional integrity and ethical practice. Collaborative leadership style. Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills. Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary environments and build cohesive team culture.What we offer This role offers the opportunity to lead one of Australia's pioneering Health Justice Partnerships within a nationally recognised integrated care organisation.This role is permanent full-time (with a six‐month probationary period). As a not‐for‐profit organisation, First Step offers access to generous salary packaging benefits, allowing eligible employees to package up to $15,900 of their salary tax‐free each year, plus up to $2,650 for meals and entertainment, increasing your take‐home pay.Application process Applications should include a cover letter that addresses the following Key Selection Criteria, an up‐to‐date resume, and two professional references. Applications that do not address the Key Selection Criteria will not be considered.Key Selection Criteria Significant experience in leading a team within community legal services, legal assistance or closely related sectors. Experience in strategic innovation and implementation of strategy within a highly collaborative, multi‐disciplinary team environment. Experience developing partnerships and securing funding or resources from governments, legal sector bodies, trusts and foundations and private philanthropy. Experience in working directly with survivors of adverse childhood events, people who use drugs, people experiencing family violence or people living with mental distress.Email your application to Patrick Lawrence (CEO) at patrick@firststep.org.au. Please apply by April 10th, 2026, including in your application:Cover Letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria Names and contact details of two professional referencesFor a full Position Description, please head to First Step's website, www.firststep.org.au/careers.Our commitment First Step is an independent not‐for‐profit organisation that provides a safe and nurturing work environment for people of all backgrounds, genders, religions, sexualities, ethnicities, or any other factor. Candidates identifying as LGBTQI+ as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. People with a lived experience of mental illness, substance use or family violence are invited to address their experience from a strength‐based perspective in their applications if they feel comfortable to do so. Note that there are designated peers at First Step and that many staff members have a lived experience of drug or alcohol use and mental distress.#J-18808-Ljbffr